350 



DISTEIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



Bruguiera (bis No. 1 Samoa to Tongatabu). A small tree, thirty feet high, with the 

 trunk twelve to eighteen inches in diameter. Intermingled among the mangroves ; 

 frequent ; in times of scarcity, the fruit eaten by the natives. 



Rhizophora (compare No. 1 Samoa to Tongatabu). Several varieties were pointed out by 

 the Feejeeans, but all seemed referable to the niucronate variety of Tongatabu ; though 

 the raucro was not always present. Arborescent; ten to twenty feet high, with the 

 trunk sometimes nine inches in diameter; the low shrubby variety of Samoa and Ton- 

 gatabu being nowhere met with. (The capsule or seed has a long, heavy, pointed 

 appendage, as though to subserve the purpose of a stake or pile ; but I do not now 

 remember to have seen it sticking upright in the soft mud.) 



Memecylon? (No. 1). Eight to ten feet high; fruit, by abortion, solitary along the 

 branches. On the mountain behind Muthuata, at the elevation of fifteen hundred feet. 



(No. 2) ; fruit rounder, perhaps, than in the last. " Ovolau," Brackenridge. 



•? (No. 3); but the leaves sinuato-crenate, and larger. "Ovolau, at the eleva- 

 tion of one thousand feet," Brackenridge. 



Melastoma Malabathricum ? ; bis (No. 1 Taheiti to Samoa). Growing in exposed situa- 

 tions, and in clearings. 



; possibly distinct, the leaves green on both sides. Mountain-summits on Ovolau, 



at the elevation of two thousand feet. 



(Astronia, No. 3) ; gen. Melastom. ; and a congener of (No. 2) Samoa. Twenty feet high ; 

 fruit small, and the flowers probably inconspicuous. Bank of stream at Mbua Bay, and 

 elsewhere. 



(No. 4) ; a congener of (No. 1) Taheitian mountains, and apparently of the last 



species. " Twenty feet high;" leaves smooth, trinerved ; larger green fruit than in sp. 

 of Mbua Bay. " Ovolau, at the elevation of a thousand feet," Brackenridge. 



(No. 5). Eight feet high ; leaves long-petioled. Bank of stream in the Sandal- 

 wood District. 



(Medinilla, No. 1 ; recorded as) nov. gen. Melast. A woody vine, climbing a hundred 

 feet and more, over the tallest trees; leaves 5-7 nerved, subcordate at base, one leaf in 

 each pair usually by abortion wanting; flowers in long white racemes, arising from the 

 old wood ; white flower-bracts. Ovolau, growing in the forest. 



(No. 2) ; a congener of the preceding. A weak-stemmed shrub, climbing, but 



only to the height of twenty to thirty feet ; fol. alt. smaller ; red bracts. Mountain- 

 summits on Ovolau, at the elevation of two thousand feet. 



Gen. Melastomac, (No. 1). " Ten feet high ;" leaves trinerved, with transverse ner- 

 vules; long, ferruginous pubescence; no flowers. "Ovolau, at the elevation of fifteen 

 hundred feet," Brackenridge. 



Carica papaya, (bis Metia to Tongatabu, and No. 1 Tropical America). Abundantly cul- 

 tivated, and more luxuriant than in any other country as yet visited ; but the fruit 

 seemed to be principally eaten by boys. 



Portulaca; bis (No. 3) Samoa; compare P. pilosa. Around dwellings; introduced (by 

 aboriginal settlers). 



Mollugoid (No. 1), or Pharnaceoid. Leaves verticillate ; several seeds. Frequent in cul- 

 tivated ground, on Ovolau and elsewhere; (introduced by aboriginal settlers). 



Hydrocotyle (No. 1, bis Samoa to Tongatabu). Growing around dwellings; introduced 

 (by aboriginal settlers). 



